The Walking Dead spoilers: Rick Grimes leaves the show for good – but did he survive blowing up the crowd of walkers?

Actor Andrew Lincoln revealed he was leaving the AMC show earlier this year, and his dramatic exit aired in the States last night

Spoiler

Julia Pritchard

5 Nov 2018, 10:28

Updated: 5 Nov 2018, 18:34

Julia Pritchard

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RICK Grimes made a truly explosive exit from The Walking Dead last night.

Andrew Lincoln, who has played the protagonist since 2010, revealed he was leaving the AMC show last month, but it was not known if he would be killed off.

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Rick Grimes made an explosive exit from The Walking Dead last night - but he was not killed offCredit: AMC

However, fans were delighted after the dramatic episode aired, as Rick was saved by Anne after getting badly injured in an explosion.

Rick had already freed himself from a horrific impaling when he began to coax a group of 'walkers' away from his loved ones.

Leading the zombie horde to nearby bridge, he proceeded to kill the creatures by letting off an explosion - which seemingly sacrificed his own life in the process.

The likes of Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) watched on in horror, but it was later revealed he had survived when Anne found him washed up on the riverbank.

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The character managed to free himself from a horrific impaling, in order to coax a group of 'walkers' away from his loved onesCredit: AMC

The leader, formerly known as Jadis, had struck a deal with a mystery group of saviours during the episode, who soon arrived by helicopter and flew the pair to safety.

Fans were delighted by the scenes, having been left devastated when Andrew confirmed he was leaving earlier this year.

However they did not need to mourn for long, as it was later revealed the actor would be returning as Rick Grimes for three Walking Dead movies instead.

AMC content chief Scott M. Gimple told The Hollywood Reporter last week: "There is more story to tell and we'll be telling it.

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He led the zombie horde to a bridge, which he proceeded to blow up - killing them and seemingly sacrificing himself, before it was revealed he had been saved by AnneCredit: AMC

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"The story of Rick will go on in films. Right now, we're working on three but there's flexibility in that."

There was speculation that Lincoln decided to leave because of creative differences with AMC.

He was thought to have objected to the current state of the series, and fans wondered if it was because Rick's son Carl was killed off.

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Andrew Lincoln (above) revealed he was leaving the AMC show earlier this year, but its since been confirmed that he will reprise his role as Rick in three Walking Dead moviesCredit: Getty - Contributor